Model year record

1998 GMC Sonoma recalls & problems

The 1998 GMC Sonoma has 4 safety recalls and 156 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility (56 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints156filed by owners

Crashes · fires9 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, otherMar 12, 2007

Storage › Tank assembly › Pressure relief devices

Recall 07E021000742 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Exterior lightingAug 11, 2000

Exterior lighting

Recall 00V22000014,279 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.

Electrical systemNov 25, 1997

Wiring › Front underhood

Recall 97V20800133,973 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Risk: THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.

Service brakes, hydraulicNov 24, 1997

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 97V21800019,716 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Risk: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1998 GMC Sonoma Extended Cab

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Sonoma 2WD

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Sonoma 4WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Sonoma 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	56	0	0	0	52,500 mi
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Mid/rear assembly	31	0	0	0	67,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	16	3	0	1	80,000 mi
StructureBody › Door › Hinge and attachments; Body › Door	15	1	0	0	50,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	11	0	2	0	101,500 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	11	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	11	8	0	1	178,000 mi
Electrical systemWiring; 12v/24v/48v battery	9	0	0	0	68,480 mi
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Front	7	1	0	0	—
EquipmentMechanical › Carrier/rack; Appliance › Air conditioner	5	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch; Doors › Latch	4	0	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages; Gear box › Shaft sector	4	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN ENGINE , EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!
Apr 5, 2017 · 80,000 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,477.
Apr 10, 2016 · 264,477 miles
Seats
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR
Jan 3, 2012 · 178,000 miles
Tires
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HWY, DRIVING BETWEEN 35-60 MPH BECAUSE OF ICY, SNOWY, SLUSHY, 35 MPH WINDY CONDITIONS. MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING CRAZILY AND MY TRUCK KEPT WANTING TO PULL ITSELF TO THE LEFT. I FELT BUMPING EVERY TIME THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL MADE A REVOLUTION. WITH 1 1/2 HOURS OF DRIVING TIME LEFT I KEPT HOPING I WOULD MAKE IT HOME SAFELY, WHICH I DID. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THE NEXT DAY ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME ALL FOUR TIRES OF MINE WERE SHOT - CORDS IN TWO TIRES SNAPPED, AND BUBBLING AND THREAD/TREADWEAR IN THE OTHER TWO. GRANTED, I HAD THE TIRES FOR 7 YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE 70,000 MILES TIRES THAT LASTED 31,000 MILES. PREMATURE TREADWEAR WAS EVIDENT AFTER DRIVING THE…
Feb 17, 2013 · 91,700 miles
Air bagsCrash
DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR
Jul 12, 2012 · 145,000 miles
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ..UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE RAIN. UPDATED 09/28/11*JB
Jul 1, 2010 · 50,000 miles
Structure › Frame and members
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE FRAME TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000...UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/05/11
Jul 16, 2011 · 100,000 miles
Tires
I LOST THE TREAD ON ONE OF MY TOYO TIRES AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. IT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE! IT WAS THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CALL FOR HELP. I'VE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED BUT THE DEALER I WENT TO (DISCOUNT TIRES) WHERE I PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE ONE TOLD ME THEY ARE GOOD TIRES AND CONVINCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER TOYO. NOW I'M WORRIED. *TR
Aug 20, 2010 · 146,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.